U.S. patent number 7,726,750 [Application Number 11/480,331] was granted by the patent office on 2010-06-01 for latch for enclosure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven J. Johnson, Trent T. Jones, Johann Anthony Toikka.
United States Patent |
7,726,750 |
Johnson , et al. |
June 1, 2010 |
Latch for enclosure
Abstract
An enclosure includes a back enclosure unit, a front enclosure
unit hinged to the back enclosure unit, a rod coupled to the front
enclosure unit, and a spring latch coupled to the back enclosure
unit, wherein the rod engages the spring latch when the front
enclosure unit is closed upon the back enclosure unit.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Steven J. (Mahtomedi,
MN), Toikka; Johann Anthony (Andover, MN), Jones; Trent
T. (White Bear Lake, MN) |
Assignee: |
Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.
(Anoka, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
39050050 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/480,331 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080036344 A1 |
Feb 14, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/217; 312/324;
312/287 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02B
1/38 (20130101); E05C 7/02 (20130101); E05C
19/06 (20130101); E05B 63/244 (20130101); E05C
3/04 (20130101); E05B 15/022 (20130101); E05B
63/0052 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05C
7/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;312/296,216,217,220,324,325,329,287,215
;292/340,137,145,150,302,DIG.53,152,303 ;109/19,67,68
;70/208,DIG.65 ;232/19,43.1,43.4,44 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"DesignLine Double Hinged Instrument Enclosures;" Hoffman
Engineering Company; 1990; pp. 286 and 287; Anoka, MN USA. cited by
other.
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Primary Examiner: Wilkens; Janet M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Greenberg Trauig, LLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An enclosure comprising: a back enclosure unit including an open
front side, the back enclosure unit adapted to be mounted against a
wall; a front enclosure unit hinged to the back enclosure unit, the
front enclosure unit including an open front side and an open back
side, the front enclosure unit configured with the back enclosure
unit such that the open back side of the front enclosure unit
closes over the open front side of the back enclosure unit; a front
door hinged to the front enclosure unit and located so as to cover
the open front side of the front enclosure unit; a spring latch
coupled to the back enclosure unit; and a rod coupled to the front
enclosure unit, the rod rotatable relative to the spring latch, the
rod extending from the front side of the front enclosure unit
through the open back side of the front enclosure unit, the rod
including a handle on one end and a latching feature on a second
end, the latching feature including a ridge along a side of the
rod, wherein the latching feature engages the spring latch when the
front enclosure unit is closed upon the back enclosure unit.
2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein when the rod is rotated a
quarter turn, the latching feature disengages from the spring
latch.
3. The enclosure of claim 1, further including an alignment feature
on the back enclosure unit and a mating alignment feature on the
front enclosure unit.
4. The enclosure of claim 1, including a gasket material on at
least one of the front or back enclosure units.
5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the spring latch includes at
least two arms biased towards each other.
6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the rod is internally mounted
within the front enclosure unit.
7. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the rod and spring latch are
adapted to automatically latch upon the closing of the front
enclosure unit on the back enclosure unit.
8. The enclosure of claim 1, further including a spring assembly to
return the rod to the rod's original orientation after being
rotated.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of electrical enclosures, and
more specifically to a latch for a double hinge enclosure.
BACKGROUND
Electrical enclosures can be used to house assorted electrical and
datacom equipment. The enclosure protects the electrical equipment
from the environment and helps prevent access to the equipment. A
double hinge enclosure includes a back enclosure unit hinged to a
front enclosure unit. The units are typically latched together
using a manual means such as an outside latch which a user latches
to hold the two enclosure units together. There is a need for an
easier method of latching the two enclosure units.
SUMMARY
An enclosure includes a back enclosure unit, a front enclosure unit
hinged to the back enclosure unit, a rod coupled to the front
enclosure unit, and a spring latch coupled to the back enclosure
unit. The rod engages the spring latch when the front enclosure
unit is closed upon the back enclosure unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an enclosure according to one
embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG.
1.
FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the enclosure of FIG.
1.
FIG. 5 shows details of a latching system of the enclosure of FIG.
1.
FIG. 6 shows a top view of a latching system of the enclosure of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 shows another top view of the latching system of the
enclosure of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of a rod assembly, in accordance with
one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is
shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the
invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments
may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the
following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an enclosure 100 according to
one embodiment. Enclosure 100 is a double hinge, wall-mount
enclosure and includes a back enclosure unit 110, a front enclosure
unit 120 hinged to back enclosure unit 110, and a front door 130
hinged to front enclosure unit 120. Front door 130 can include one
or more rotatable latches 135 to hold the front door tightly closed
against the front enclosure unit 120. Enclosure 100 can be used to
house datacom equipment or other electrical equipment and
devices.
FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of enclosure 100 with front
enclosure unit 120 swung open from back enclosure unit 110 and
front door 130 swung open from front enclosure unit 120. As will be
discussed in detail below, enclosure 100 is configured to allow
front enclosure unit 120 to be slam latched to back enclosure unit
110.
FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of enclosure 100 with front
enclosure unit 120 open from back enclosure unit 110 and FIG. 4
shows a front perspective view of enclosure 100. Front enclosure
unit 120 is connected to back enclosure unit 110 by one or more
hinges 310. Back enclosure unit 110 includes a back wall 354, a top
wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, and
an open front side 356. The back enclosure unit 110 is adapted to
be mounted against a wall such that back wall 354 is flush with the
wall.
In one embodiment, a gasket material 320 can be mounted around a
perimeter of the open front side 356. Front enclosure unit 120
includes an edge 330 that compresses the gasket material 320 to
provide a seal when the front enclosure unit 120 is latched to the
back enclosure unit 110. In other examples, the back enclosure unit
110 can include an edge and the front enclosure unit 120 could have
the gasket material 320 mounted thereon. Gasket material 320 can
include a compliant material or a foam material, for example.
To provide the slam-latching of the present system, a rod 340 is
coupled internally within the front enclosure unit 120 and a spring
latch 350 is coupled to the back enclosure unit 110. Rod 340 is
aligned with the spring latch 350 and automatically engages the
spring latch 350 when the front enclosure unit 120 is closed upon
the back enclosure unit 110.
Rod 340 is held within front enclosure unit 120 by a front holder
450 and a rear holder 360. Rod 340 is rotatable within the holders
450, 360 but cannot move back and forth. Rod 340 extends from the
front side of the front enclosure unit 120 through the open back
side 430 of the front enclosure unit. Rod 340 includes a handle 460
on one end and a latching feature 462 on a second end. Rod 340 can
be either completely rotatable or can be spring loaded so as to
return to a predetermined position, as will be discussed below. One
or more clips 475 can be located at the front and back holders 360,
450 to hold the rod in place.
Spring latch 350 is mounted to back enclosure unit 110 at a
mounting bracket 370. Mounting bracket 370 includes a hole 372 and
the spring latch 350 is mounted on the back side of mounting
bracket 370 and aligned with hole 372. The tip of rod 340 extends
through hole 372 to engage the spring latch 350 when the front
enclosure unit is closed upon the back enclosure unit 110.
Also extending from mounting bracket 370 are alignment features 362
and 364. Alignment features 362 and 364 are configured to help
align the front enclosure unit and the back enclosure unit 110.
Front enclosure unit 120 includes corresponding alignment features
including holder 360. Holder 360 is dimensioned such that its top
and bottom surfaces can contact top and bottom camming surfaces
366, 368 of the alignment features 362, 364. Accordingly, surfaces
362 and 364 work with the alignment features of holder 360 to align
the two enclosure units. This provides further alignment to allow
the rod 340 to meet the spring latch 350 correctly. Furthermore,
holder 360 can rest on alignment feature 364 for load support and
top alignment feature 362 can rest upon holder 360 so that it also
provides load support.
Referring also to FIG. 4, front enclosure unit 120 includes a top
wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, an
open front side 420 and an open back side 430. Front enclosure unit
120 is configured with the back enclosure unit 110 such that the
open back side 430 of the front enclosure unit closes over and
communicates with the open front side 356 of the back enclosure
unit.
Front door 130 is hinged to the front enclosure unit 120 by a hinge
445 and is located so as to cover the open front side 420 of the
front enclosure unit. Gaskets 440 can be placed on the front door
so as to seal the units when closed by squeezing against an edge
470 on the front side of front enclosure unit 120. Front door 130
encapsulates and covers the unit so no access is provided. Since
the rods are inside the secured enclosure (behind the key-locked or
tool-locked door 130) the rods 340 can typically only be activated
from the front of the enclosure after opening the door. This allows
the enclosure 100 to be placed in areas with restricted access to
the sides, such as up against a side wall.
As can be seen in FIG. 5, latching feature 462 includes a ridge 464
along at least one side of rod 340. As discussed, rod 340 is
aligned with the spring latch 350 and the latching feature 462
engages the spring latch 350 when the front enclosure unit is
closed upon the back enclosure unit. This happens automatically
when the front enclosure unit 120 is slammed (forcefully closed)
upon the back enclosure unit 110. To disengage the latch, rod 340
is rotated a quarter turn and the latching feature 462 disengages
from the spring latch 350. This allows for a quick closing
slam-action latching and an automatic latching with no further
manual operation by the user. It is automatic and provides the
right compression pressure against the gaskets.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show further details of latching and unlatching the
enclosure unit. In one embodiment, spring latch 350 includes a pair
of arms 351, 352 that are biased towards each other. As rod 340
enters the spring latch 350, the arms spread and then come together
at edge 464 to hold the rod in place. To open the latch, the rod
340 is turned a quarter turn (See FIG. 7), such that the outer
surface 702 spreads arms 351 and 352 apart so that the rod can be
pulled away from spring latch 350.
FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of a rod assembly, in accordance with
one embodiment. In this example, rod 340 is spring-loaded so as to
automatically return to a locking position. Thus, after rod 340 is
turned to open the latch (see FIG. 7), the rod will automatically
return to the proper closing orientation. In one embodiment, the
spring-loaded assembly includes a spring 802 encircling rod 340.
One end of spring 802 couples to a notch 806 in holder 360 and
another end of spring 802 couples to a base 804 that also encircles
rod 340. A protrusion 808 on rod 340 engages a cut-out 810 on base
810. Thus, after the rod 340 is turned a quarter-turn, spring 802
drives base 804 and rod 340 back to the original position.
It is understood that the above description is intended to be
illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be
apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above
description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be
determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the
full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
* * * * *